Bill Clinton 1996 On The Issues
Investing in America's
Youth
"This generation has a duty to give the next generation a future of
genuine opportunity. Our young people deserve the best. I am determined that
they will get it. We must work together to build the brightest, the best
prepared, the most secure, and the most successful generation of young people
in the history of our nation.”
—President Bill Clinton
President Clinton is working to give our
nation's young people greater opportunity to live out their dreams --
with stronger families, more educational opportunity, economic security, a
cleaner environment, and a safer world. As we enter a new century, higher
education is more important than ever -- the path to high-wage jobs and a
brighter future. That is why President Clinton is increasing access to college
for as many Americans as possible. He is investing in America's youth by:
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Creating AmeriCorps, the national service initiative that gives
young people the opportunity to earn money for college by serving
their communities and their country. In the past two years, 45,000
volunteers have worked in schools, hospitals, neighborhoods, and
parks while earning money for college.
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Reforming the student loan program, making college more affordable
for 1.7 million students in 1994 and 1995. The President's new
Direct Lending Program provides college students with access to
flexible repayment options, including pay-as-you-earn plans.
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Increasing the minimum Pell Grant from $2,300 to $2,470. The
President also proposes another increase in the Pell Grant to $2,700
for 1997, providing grants to 3.8 million students.
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Expanding the School-to-Work Program and other opportunities for
students who are not immediately bound for four-year colleges --
through local partnerships among businesses, schools, community
organizations, and state and local governments.
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Creating the Community Schools Program to promote constructive
alternatives to crime for young people when they are not in school.
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Protecting the Summer Youth Employment and Training Program, which
gives many disadvantaged urban and rural students their first work
experience.
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Promoting sound economic policies that have cut the deficit by more
than half, created 10.5 million new jobs, increased exports by 31
percent, and brought down interest rates to record lows -- reducing
the cost of credit cards and student loans.
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Creating the COPS Youth Firearms Violence Initiative to enhance
community policing efforts to address the rise of youth firearm
violence. Firearms kill more people between the ages of 15 and 24
than all natural causes combined.
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Signing the Violence Against Women Act, which helps states bolster
law enforcement and provides funds to prevent rape and the sexual
exploitation of runaway and homeless youth.
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Adding 100,000 police to our streets and signing the Brady Bill and
Assault Weapons Ban.
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Increasing funding for AIDS research, prevention, and care by 37
percent, helping the 17,745 young adults ages 20-24 who were
diagnosed with AIDS by June 1995.
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Protecting our environment by issuing an executive order requiring
industries to disclose information to their neighbors about toxic
releases, by expanding national parks, by improving inspection of
meat and poultry, and by signing executive orders to increase
recycling and to cut waste in federal buildings.
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Brokering the Dayton Peace Accords, ending four years of bloodshed
in Bosnia and providing a secure environment so that elections and
economic reconstruction can proceed.
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Championing peace efforts in the Middle East, negotiating the
Israeli-Jordanian peace treaty, and helping Israelis and
Palestinians to fulfill their historic peace agreement.
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Building on Our Progress
President Clinton will continue to give young people the opportunities
they need to succeed in the next century by:
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Proposing his HOPE Scholarship Plan to make the first two years
of college as universally available as high school.
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Proposing a tax deduction of up to $10,000 per year for the cost
of college tuition and training.
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Proposing a dramatic expansion of the College Work Study
Program, increasing the number of students involved in work
study to more than 1 million over the next five years.
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Proposing the largest-ever, merit-based scholarship program to
reward the top 5 percent of high school graduates with $1,000
grants toward the cost of college.
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Source: Bill Clinton for President 1996 Web Site |
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